volcanic origin clay minerals used as a plant growth supplement … · 2017-02-08 · distilled...

12
Volcanic Origin Clay Minerals Used as a Plant Growth Supplement Purpose Will watering organic wheatgrass with water enriched with a complex clay mineral colloid increase the growth rate of the wheatgrass as compared to watering wheatgrass with standard irrigation spring water? Hypothesis Volcanic mineral enriched natural farm soils, such as those found in Napa Valley and Northern California, have long been known to produce the most vibrant, healthy, and high-yielding fruit and vegetable crops in the United States. Modern farming practices, especially in regions that are not as bountiful often leave soils depleted of the many vital inorganic trace minerals that would otherwise naturally be present in lands that are not over farmed. Water enriched with colloidal clay minerals will provide abundant inorganic nutrients which will result in the plants growing faster and with more dense blades, as measured by the height of the blades (dependent variable #1) in millimeters and the weight of the harvested grass (dependent variable #2) in grams, as compared to the control group. The control group, however, being watered with normal irrigation water (spring water) only, will grow more slowly and have less dense leaves upon harvesting. Materials 8 trays of organic wheatgrass (with minimal soil) 1 stirring rod 1 container of clay (Tecopia Essentia Edible Clay Melange) 2 two liter containers for water Two plant growing lights 2 weather monitoring stations 11.34 l of ultra purified reverse osmosis water 1 digital pH meter 11.34 l of Arrowhead mountain spring water 1 digital PWT meter 473 ml container of raw organic apple cider vinegar 1 teaspoon 1 ruler 1 measuring cup 1 pair of scissors 2 trays 1 liquid dropper 1 kitchen scale

Upload: others

Post on 05-Jul-2020

6 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Volcanic Origin Clay Minerals Used as a Plant Growth Supplement … · 2017-02-08 · Distilled water (0.3 uS – 1.2 uS) Distilled water can also be used. 9. A combination of Volcanic-origin

Volcanic Origin Clay MineralsUsed as a Plant Growth Supplement

PurposeWill watering organic wheatgrass with water enriched with a complex clay mineral colloidincrease the growth rate of the wheatgrass as compared to watering wheatgrass with standardirrigation spring water?

HypothesisVolcanic mineral enriched natural farm soils, such as those found in Napa Valley and NorthernCalifornia, have long been known to produce the most vibrant, healthy, and high-yielding fruitand vegetable crops in the United States. Modern farming practices, especially in regions thatare not as bountiful often leave soils depleted of the many vital inorganic trace minerals thatwould otherwise naturally be present in lands that are not over farmed.

Water enriched with colloidal clay minerals will provide abundant inorganic nutrients whichwill result in the plants growing faster and with more dense blades, as measured by the height ofthe blades (dependent variable #1) in millimeters and the weight of the harvested grass(dependent variable #2) in grams, as compared to the control group. The control group,however, being watered with normal irrigation water (spring water) only, will grow moreslowly and have less dense leaves upon harvesting.

Materials8 trays of organic wheatgrass (with minimal soil) 1 stirring rod1 container of clay (Tecopia Essentia Edible Clay Melange) 2 two liter containers for waterTwo plant growing lights 2 weather monitoring stations11.34 l of ultra purified reverse osmosis water 1 digital pH meter11.34 l of Arrowhead mountain spring water 1 digital PWT meter473 ml container of raw organic apple cider vinegar 1 teaspoon1 ruler 1 measuring cup1 pair of scissors 2 trays

1 liquid dropper 1 kitchen scale

Page 2: Volcanic Origin Clay Minerals Used as a Plant Growth Supplement … · 2017-02-08 · Distilled water (0.3 uS – 1.2 uS) Distilled water can also be used. 9. A combination of Volcanic-origin

ProcedureI. Preparation

A. Prepare the control water for use (as needed). Water used to grow wheatgrass should be between 6.5 – 7.0 pH.The mountain spring water used is too alkaline for ideal growing conditions. In this experiment, soil PHmodification chemicals are not used; raw organic apple cider vinegar is used to lower the pH of the water in placeof chemical-enriched fertilizer. First, pour two liters of spring water into one of the plastic two liter containers.Then, turn the digital pH meter on and test the water by placing the meter in the water. Use the glass liquid dropperto add drops of apple cider vinegar into the water until the pH of the water is in the proper range.

B. Prepare the clay water for use (as needed). The clay water is the independent variable in the experiment. Firstyou need to test the purity of the ultra pure reverse osmosis water. This is done by using the electronic PWT meter.A reading anywhere below 60 uS is clean enough for use. It should be about 25.0 uS. Next, pour one liter of waterinto the second two liter plastic container. Then, add two teaspoons of the clay mineral blend into the container.Stir occasionally because it tends to get stuck on the sides. Once the clay is completely aqueous, test the pH of thewater (it will be very alkaline). Lower the pH by using the organic apple cider vinegar (about 100 drops will berequired).

C. Prepare the wheatgrass trays. Using a pair of scissors, trim each wheatgrass container so that the grass is levelwith the top of each container, so that all eight containers of wheatgrass have grass cut to the same starting height.Create two groups of trays (Group A and Group B), each made up of four trays. Label 4 trials in each group (1-A,2-A, 3-A, 4-A …1-B, 2-B, 3-B, 4-B). Group A represents the 4 trials in the control group (to be watered withspring water). Group B represents the 4 trials in the experiment group (to be watered with clay mineral enrichedwater). Place all four wheatgrass containers from group A into one large plastic tray. Add one weather stationsensor in the middle of the four wheatgrass containers for accurate conditions monitoring. Label the weatherstation monitor “Group A”. Place all four containers of wheatgrass from group B into the second large plastic tray.Add the second weather station sensor in the middle of the four containers and label the monitor “Group B”.Position one natural growing light over each group, so that the light is distributed evenly across all the wheatgrasscontainers.

II. Implementation

Each morning, record the ambient weather conditions from the weather station monitors. This data will be used to becertain that the ambient conditions for both groups are equivalent. Record the room temperature, the temperature at thesensor, and the humidity for Group A and then for Group B. Each morning, add between 55 and 115 ml of claymineral water to each container in group B (independent variable) and then add the same amount of mountain springwater to each container in group B. Each morning, turn both of the natural growing lights on. Each evening, after 8-10hours of light, turn off both of the growing lights.

On day three, measure and record the height, in millimeters, of each wheatgrass container in both groups using thewooden ruler. Measure from the top “lip” of the container so that each measurement is as uniformly conducted aspossible. Estimate the average height of the grass growth in each container, not the highest blade nor the lowest blade.On day seven, measure and record the height of all wheatgrass containers. Then, carefully trim the grass of eachwheatgrass container so that the grass is once again level with the top of each container. Carefully harvest the grassfrom each wheatgrass container and record the weight of each by using the kitchen scale.

Page 3: Volcanic Origin Clay Minerals Used as a Plant Growth Supplement … · 2017-02-08 · Distilled water (0.3 uS – 1.2 uS) Distilled water can also be used. 9. A combination of Volcanic-origin

ConclusionAlthough one of the four trials had to be removed (4-A did not grow properly for some unknownreason), all three successful trials demonstrated conclusively that the clay mineral enriched watercaused the wheatgrass to grow slightly faster and ultimately produced a significant increase in theamount of wheatgrass harvested at the end of the 7 day growing period. The average height increasemeasured was 1.0 millimeters. The average increase in wheat grass yield (by weight) was 24.31%.The data fully supports the initial hypothesis.

This same procedure can be applied in home organic gardening and organic hydroponics. Theexperiment clearly demonstrates that the mineral content of soil contributes significantly to the vitalityof plants, flowers, and the vegetables growing therein.

Page 4: Volcanic Origin Clay Minerals Used as a Plant Growth Supplement … · 2017-02-08 · Distilled water (0.3 uS – 1.2 uS) Distilled water can also be used. 9. A combination of Volcanic-origin

General InformationExperiment Assumptions

1. The ideal growing temperature of wheatgrass is between 70.0 degrees F and 80.0 degrees F.2. The ideal pH for growing wheatgrass is between 6.5 and 7.0.3. The ideal amount of water needed to grow wheatgrass is between 115 – 230 ml per day.4. The ideal amount of clay minerals per plant per month is 10 grams per month.5. One teaspoonful of clay minerals equals 5 grams.6. The ideal organic acid modifier for hydroponics is raw organic apple cider vinegar.7. Arrowhead Mountain Spring Water is equivalent to standard farming irrigation water.8. Ten stage ultra purified reverse osmosis water produces water that is equivalent to rainfall.

Distilled water (0.3 uS – 1.2 uS) Distilled water can also be used.9. A combination of Volcanic-origin and sedimentary clay minerals are ideal clay minerals to use

for agriculture.10.The organic wheatgrass used in the experiment was fully grown due to time restraint.

Page 5: Volcanic Origin Clay Minerals Used as a Plant Growth Supplement … · 2017-02-08 · Distilled water (0.3 uS – 1.2 uS) Distilled water can also be used. 9. A combination of Volcanic-origin

Graphs

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

Grams

Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3Trials

Amount of Wheatgrass Harvested After Seven Days

Group A (Spring Water) Harvest

Group B (Clay Mineral Water) Harvest

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

mm

Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3Trials

Height of Wheatgrass Blades After Seven Days

Group A (Spring Water) Average Blade HeightGroup B (Clay Mineral Water) Average Blade Height

Page 6: Volcanic Origin Clay Minerals Used as a Plant Growth Supplement … · 2017-02-08 · Distilled water (0.3 uS – 1.2 uS) Distilled water can also be used. 9. A combination of Volcanic-origin

Data

Ambient Conditions for Groups A & B by Date

DateRoom

Temp (F)

Group APot Temp

(F)

Group BPot Temp

(F)

Group AHumidity

(%)

Group BHumidity

(%)Amt of

Water (ml)28-Mar 73.9 73.9 73.8 2 2.00 23029-Mar 73.8 73.8 73.9 7 2.00 11530-Mar 73.9 73.9 73.8 13 18.00 5531-Mar 73.1 73.1 73.2 22 11.00 55

1-Apr 74.3 74.3 74.3 9 11.00 552-Apr 74.5 74.5 74.5 10 8.00 553-Apr 75.2 75.2 75.3 13 15.00 554-Apr 73.9 73.9 73.9 3 7.00 55

Average 74.08 74.08 74.09 9.88 9.25 84.38

Amount of Wheatgrass Harvested after Seven Days in GramsTrial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3

Group A (Spring Water) Harvest 9 14 8.5Group B (Clay Mineral Water) Harvest 14 18 10

Height of Wheatgrass After Seven Days in mmTrial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3

Group A (Spring Water) Average Blade Height 14 12 8.5Group B (Clay Mineral Water) Average Blade Height 15 13.5 10

Page 7: Volcanic Origin Clay Minerals Used as a Plant Growth Supplement … · 2017-02-08 · Distilled water (0.3 uS – 1.2 uS) Distilled water can also be used. 9. A combination of Volcanic-origin

Pictures

Basic Materials Used

Making the Labels for the Experiment

Page 8: Volcanic Origin Clay Minerals Used as a Plant Growth Supplement … · 2017-02-08 · Distilled water (0.3 uS – 1.2 uS) Distilled water can also be used. 9. A combination of Volcanic-origin

Labels Printed and Ready

Wheatgrass Labeled and Ready for Trimming

Page 9: Volcanic Origin Clay Minerals Used as a Plant Growth Supplement … · 2017-02-08 · Distilled water (0.3 uS – 1.2 uS) Distilled water can also be used. 9. A combination of Volcanic-origin

Final Preperation: Making the First Cut

Adjusting the PH of Spring Water

Page 10: Volcanic Origin Clay Minerals Used as a Plant Growth Supplement … · 2017-02-08 · Distilled water (0.3 uS – 1.2 uS) Distilled water can also be used. 9. A combination of Volcanic-origin

Seven Days Later: Time for the Harvest

Measuring the Height of the Blades of Wheatgrass

Page 11: Volcanic Origin Clay Minerals Used as a Plant Growth Supplement … · 2017-02-08 · Distilled water (0.3 uS – 1.2 uS) Distilled water can also be used. 9. A combination of Volcanic-origin

Measuring the Weight of the Wheatgrass

Finally the Clean Up: Drinking the Antioxidant-rich Organic Wheatgrass Juice

Page 12: Volcanic Origin Clay Minerals Used as a Plant Growth Supplement … · 2017-02-08 · Distilled water (0.3 uS – 1.2 uS) Distilled water can also be used. 9. A combination of Volcanic-origin

Credits

This brief experiment was conducted in April 2010 by Jason R. Eaton and Nicholas R. Eaton for a 5th

Grade Science Fair in Las Vegas, Nevada.

This presentation is copyright 2010 by Nicholas R. Eaton. All rights reserved for commercialpresentation, all rights released for non-commercial applications (link back to the page thispresentation is displayed on is required, as well as copyright display).

The clay used in this experiment was Tecopia Essentia Melange - Blend of 3 Clays